Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of Immanuel Lutheran Church met April 14 in the fellowship hall of the Seymour church. Jan Behrens welcomed all in attendance.
Pastor Ralph Blomenberg led a Bible study titled “Seedy Characters” written by Elaine Bickel from the spring 2015 Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly. It was based on the parable of the sower sowing his seed in various places.
Janis Mundt, substituting for secretary Sharon McAllister, read the minutes of the last meeting, and they were approved. The treasurer’s report also was read and approved.
The special project for March was to collect money for Lutheran World Relief. Treasurer Bonnie Raabe reported the group collected enough money so far to purchase 26 hens and chicks.
Also during the meeting, Lois Byrkett was elected president and Mundt secretary, both for two-year terms. Behrens thanked vice president Sharon Klakamp and treasurer Raabe for serving the first year of their two-year terms.
Janis Mundt reported on the spring workshop April 11 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in North Vernon. The speakers were the Rev. Dr. Michael and Jen-Yi “Irene” Paul. They have accepted a call to Taiwan to teach at the China Lutheran Seminary and will translate Lutheran resources and help to plant and pastor Lutheran congregations.
They are in the process of building a network of support for their mission work, raising money and awareness of their work traveling many places in the U.S. They will be moving to Taiwan sometime later this summer. Two of their three children will be going with them, and the oldest will be starting classes at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, in the fall.
After the report, a motion was passed to give $100 for the couple’s missionary work.
The National LWML Convention will be June 25 to 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. The group’s zone delegate will be Carolyn Shoemaker of Trinity in Vallonia, and Behrens also will be attending.
Club members are asked to bring items for Gifts From the Heart to the next meeting June 9. Items are Crayola regular markers, tempera paint, crayons (which will be donated by the school), colored pencils, glue or glue sticks, pony beads and laces, school kits and hygiene kits. These will be taken to the national convention.
At the next meeting, the club hopes to have its new LWML booklet available, put together by Marlis Kilgas.
Installation of new officers will be June 9.
Behrens also reminded everyone of the busy year ahead since the Seymour, Aurora and Columbus zones make up the committee for planning the 2016 Indiana District LWML Convention in Bloomington.
A Treatshop will be Aug. 22 in Carmel. This is an inexpensive and fun way to learn new information and bring back a lot of new ideas to use in the coming year.
The fall rally is scheduled for Oct. 4 with the location to be determined. The zone president and secretary positions will be elected at that time.
Behrens had the closing devotion based on Psalm 72:12: “We are to honor God by ministering to his people.”